Running an agency means juggling a dozen things at once, and web development often becomes the thorn in everyone’s side. Projects run late, costs spiral, and suddenly you’re hiring someone full-time who you’ll struggle to keep busy year-round. Maybe it’s time to outsource a web developer instead. Here’s why that actually makes sense.
The Maths Doesn’t Lie
A decent in-house developer costs £40,000 to £60,000 annually, plus benefits, equipment, and office space. Then there’s recruitment fees, onboarding time, and the fact they’ll need at least a month to get up to speed. Outsourcing means you pay for actual work, not potential work.
Skills Change Faster Than You Can Hire
Remember when everyone needed WordPress specialists? Then it was React developers. Now it’s headless CMS and JAMstack architecture. By the time you hire for today’s tech, tomorrow’s already moved on. External developers stay current because their livelihood depends on it.
Your Workload Isn’t Consistent
Three months you’ve got four website builds on the go. The next quarter? Crickets. An in-house developer sat idle is money burning. Outsourced talent scales with your actual needs, not your optimistic projections.
Speed Matters More Than You Think
Good freelance developers or agencies can start immediately. No notice periods, no interviews that drag on for weeks, no probation periods. When a client needs something next month, you can say yes without crossing your fingers.
You’re Buying Insurance Against Disasters
What happens when your developer goes on holiday? Gets ill? Quits unexpectedly? With an outsourced team, there’s always someone else who can pick up the work. You’re not held hostage by one person’s availability or mood.
Management Headaches Disappear
Developers need managing—code reviews, professional development, performance reviews, the lot. When you outsource, someone else handles those conversations. You just review the finished work and either approve it or request changes.
Focus Gets You Further
Your agency probably excels at strategy, creative work, or client relationships. That’s where your energy should go. Trying to become experts at web development too spreads you thin. Let specialists handle the code whilst you handle what you’re actually good at.
It’s Not All or Nothing
Here’s what most agencies miss: you don’t have to choose completely. Keep a technical director or project manager in-house who understands development, then outsource a web developer for the actual building. You maintain quality control without the full overhead.
The agencies struggling right now are the ones still pretending they need every skill under one roof. The ones thriving have figured out that smart partnerships beat stubborn independence every single time.
